Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has repeated his demand for a Budget adjustment target of less than €3.1bn to ease the burden on families.

He said no figure would be settled on with coalition partners Fine Gael until much closer to the Budget on October 15.

"It has seemed to us for some time that it is possible to meet the targets in this year's Budget without a €3.1bn adjustment. What the final figure will be is obviously something that will be discussed closer to Budget Day," he said.

Fine Gael is far more cautious than Labour in relation to the current €3.1bn Budgetary target and has not yet promised any reduction.

Mr Gilmore insisted that Labour was determined to meet the targets and get out of the bailout programme - but not by cutting more than was necessary when there were signs of economic recovery.

"I think it's fair to say that Irish people have borne a very big burden over the past five years," he said.

He was speaking after arriving at Labour's two-day think in event in Enfield, Co Meath.